The general approach of modern medicine is to wait until something has gone wrong and then try to fix it. But it is not necessary to be passive in this way. Instead, it is possible to identify the fascial and muscle tension, structural imbalances, or harmful patterns of movement that render someone susceptible to injury in the first place and seek to resolve these causes at their root. Depending on the stage at which an intervention through Rolfing takes place, the expected result is that the injury is either preempted or, in case it has already occurred at the time of intervention, addressed at its origin rather than its symptomatic manifestation. By way of an example to illustrate this point, it is very likely that someone with lower back pain suffers from lack of hip mobility and, by the same token, someone with lack of hip mobility risks developing chronic back pain. From the example, it should be clear that unless the causal relations that condition a symptom have been discerned and addressed, an intervention is liable to treat the symptom in isolation with correspondingly little hope of permanent resolution. No amount of cold compresses or core strengthening exercises, or mindful breathing can compensate for a chronic assault on it by stress patterns originating from lack of hip mobility. 

In short, Rolfing seeks to foster the innate capacities and order of the body with the result that a person is freer and more efficient in movement and less prone to injury. Please visit the “writings and videos” page in the top menu for a litany of short articles and videos inspired by Rolfing's experiences and Rolfing principles. From practical exercises to metaphysical insights, these resources are my attempt to offer useful perspectives on the question of doing the thing we call “life” well.